Classic films with a festive spirit

Joan Parsons, The showroom’s Film Programmer

For many people opening the first door of an advent calendar marks the beginning of the pre-Christmas buzz.

Not for me however! My Christmassy feelings begin with the annual return of It’s A Wonderful Life to the Showroom’s screens. Every year, people revisit this classic with family and friends, sharing it with newcomers and revelling in the nostalgic and heart-warming Christmas tale.

Sheffield’s classic Christmas-film fans will not be disappointed this year, there is plenty on offer across the city to get people in a festive mood. Along with It’s a Wonderful Life, the Showroom will also be screening Elf, Home Alone and The Muppet Christmas Carol, Sharrow Reels are screening Die Hard and Village Green screenings at 94 Burton Road include Edward Scissorhands and Miracle on 34th Street. Definitely something for everyone under the cinema Christmas tree this year.

Last week the independent cinema sector congregated in Glasgow at This Way Up, a conference dedicated to exploring successes, innovations, adaptations and areas of focus for our industry in the future as well as the opportunity to share case studies, take notes and catch up with colleagues from across the country.

Also launching alongside this conference was the BFI 2022 strategy. As lead body for film in the UK, the British Film Institute has shown in its plans from 2017-22 a major commitment to young audiences, diversity across the industry and a greater devolution of development and support to the regions. It will be an exciting five years if this plan is anything to go by and the Showroom will be working hard to bring great film to more people across the region.

On the subject of the British film industry, independent British films are often hard to see and with limited marketing budgets can struggle to find space in the noisy world of film promotion. However, this week there are two such films at the Showroom for you to discover. The Incident, the debut feature film from BAFTA nominated Jane Linfoot was filmed in Yorkshire and we are delighted to be able to welcome members of the cast and crew for a Q&A after the screening on Friday December 9, 6pm. Norfolk – a story about PTSD and its ability to warp the world view of a man and his son who are cut off from the real world – is on at the Showroom on Wednesday, December 14, 6.30pm.